Safety locking and unlocking two-hand control



Oct. l2, 1948. B. J. YANHENKo 2,451,010

I SAFETY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING TWO-HAND CONTROL Filed Jan. 11, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BASIL J. YANCHENKO @GOM 8f ATTORNEYS Oct. 12, 1948. B. J. YANcHENKo 2,451,010

I SAFETY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING TWO-HAND CONTROL n Filed Jan. ll,.1946 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BASIL J. YNCHENK Patented Oct. l2, 1948 kSAFETY LOCKING AND UNLocKING Two-HAND coNfrRoL Basil J. Yanchenko, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to G. A. Braun, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York VApplication January 11, 1946, Serial No. 640,657

' 4 claims. (o1. 1in- 38) This invention relates to controls for presses r power machines having successive or repeated operating movements, as for one example, an opening and closing movement, during each operation on a piece of work. In some of such machines, as for example, laundry and garment lpressesthe machine stops when in closed position of'each operating movement, or lhas two steps, a, closing step and an opening step' in each operation, and the machine remains closed for a period before opening. In other machines, as punch presses, the operation is in one continuous movement, that is, the closing and opening is Without a pause. In other machines, the operations may be intermittent in one direction only, as in a rotary cut-off or shearing tool. vWhen'there is a pause at' the end of the closing movement, releasable holding or stopping means are used in the event it is desired to'relieve the Voperator of holding the manuals operated, while the machine is closed. The control mechanism of this invention is particularly adapted for the punch press operation,although, of course, it is adapted to the type of operations used in garment and laundry presses,

The invention has for its object locking mechanism for each manually-operated member of a twoV hand control in which the` locking of either member is controlled by the operation of the other member when only the latter member is uals, after each operation, if themanuals are held operated too long. This feature is pertinent to a control mechanism embodying a single manual or pedal.

Theinvention consists inthe novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

ditional mechanism for preventing repeated operation, upon one operation of the manual or operator-operated control. 'y

The invention, as here illustrated, embodies, generally, a master control member, a power motor for operating it to control the ow of power through the master control member to perform work,'as to operate a machine, right and -left hand manually-operated control members,v a power line connected to the manually-operated control members individually, a transfer dpower line between the manual control members and having check devices in series therein capable of permitting a restricted ow of power through the check devices, there being one device for each manual control member, which are disiposed reversely or inloppositi-on to each other',

so that one device restricts when the flow is in one direction but the'flow is free in the other direction, and the other device restricts in the opposite direction and the flow is free inthe first direction, a motor for operating the master valve connected in the transfer power vline through the check elements, and a poweroperated lock individual to each control member and con'- nected to the transfer power line having the check devices, in such a manner that upon the operation of either manual member alone the other unoperated member is locked from Opera'- tion. Also, the invention consists in an additional means for forcibly returning one of the v manual control members to its original or start- 'ing position, controlled by the operation of the machine after it is operated a predetermined ldistance, so that repeated operations ofthe machine upon one operation of the manual, manuals or operator-operated member is prevented.

In describing thisinvention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all `the views.

, As the motive power is a pressure fluid, as compressed Iair, the control members, the check devices, the master control are shown as valves, and the motors, as pneumatic. The motors for operating the locks, etc., are shown as embodying diaphragms, and the check devices with the restricted flow around the checked main passages are shown as bleeder valves. y

l and 2 designate left and right manuallyoperated control valves enclosed in ,casingY or vboxes 3, 4. They are of the combined intake and exhaust type and may be of anysuitable construction. The valves are alike in construction, and a description of the valve I, which is shown 'in Figure 1, is sufficient for each.

5 designates the body of the valve, and eine movable valve member, this being shown as havinga normally-closed intake head .'l at one end',

and a normally-open exhaust valve head 8 at the other end, and being reciprocally mounted in the casing 5, and the heads being connected by a stem. The intake valve head 'I is normally pressed against its seat in the valve casing 5 as by a spring 9, and when the head 1 is seated, the exhaust valve head is open for permitting the exhaust of air out through exhaust port I into the casing 3, which is open to the outer air. The air intake pipe II, shown diagrammatically, is connected to a main line supply pipe L and-opens into the intake end of the casing 5. An outlet or transfer pipe I2, shown diagrammatically, leads from an outlet port I3 in the valve casing 5 between the heads I and 8 or their seats. The valve member 6 is oper-ated by a manual lever, the left hand manual being designated I4 and the right hand I5. Each lever is shown as in the form on an angle lever having an arm thrusting against a plunger I6, which in turn thrusts 'against a' spring II in a socket or slide I8 having an axial extension I9, which thrusts against the .exhaust `head 8 of the valve member S, the movement of the socket or slide I8 being against 'a return spring 20. The purpose of the spring I1, vaside .from cushioning, is to permit the forcible :closing-of the valve, when the manual I4 is held operated too long. For the purpose -of further explanation, the parts'corresponding respectively to the numerals I0, II, SI2 4and I3 are designated iin theright hand vcontrol valve as I, 2I, 22 and .23.

24 and 25 designate check valves having restricted passages around the checking means, vas the balls therein, these devices being connected in series in the transfer `power line through the valves 'I fand 2 .but -reversel-y arranged in the-line, so rthat -When either` control valve is open, the air will pass `from ,the open control valve around the 4main passages and through the Irestricted .passage of the check valve paired therewith and through the` main passage .of the other check valve .to the other manually-operated valve, which is in-closed position, .and as it is in closed position,.its exhaustis. open, .so that the air eX- yhaustsput `and .the .ow of power to the motor 4for the `master valve, to .be described, is ineffective or Ynot suicientto operate it. For instance, assume that the .lefthandmanual valve I only .is operated, the -airwill .then passY from .the power lineL, .pipe .I.I, pastthe open intake Valve head 'I Yout -throu-gh. the port I3, through pipe I-2, check valve V2:1through the restricted passage thereof, through .the intermediate leg 2B of the line in which .the twocheck valves .are connected in series, thencethroughthe main passage of the othericheck valve 25, Ythen through .line 22 .of .the other. .valve 2 andout .through the exhaust port Illa. If, however, the righthand valve I only .is.operated, air will pass from the supply line L through the` .line v2I, .past the open )intake and Aexhaust valvehead thereof through line.22, and around the .main passage .and .through the restricted passage of the .checkvalve 25, through line 2B, .through the main passage of the valve .24,.then throughtheline .I2 to the lefthand valve -.I., which .is .in Aclosed position, so that the v.air exhausts .outthrough the port. I5 of theleft hand manual .I. When, however, both. valves are closed simultaneouslyor atA the sameV operating period, the air ,pressure will lpass through vboth '..lines I2 and 22 inpppositedirections and. build up the pressurein the lintermediate leg 26 .thereof and pass.through.line.2.1 to the ,pressureoperated motor 28, to be described, which operates.

the master valve to the oW of air from the power line 29 out through a pipe or outlet 30 to a suitable motor, which operates the machine to which the control is applied. The check valves 24 and are shown as having spring-pressed balls 300 for closing the main vpassages thereof against Iiow in one direction, and seats for the valves are formed with restricted passages 32, 33 therethrough, respectively, which are controlled or adjusted .by metering pins or needle valves 34, 35. These check valves are so arranged that the check valves confine the flow from one control valve, 4as the left hand valve I, toward the right hand valve 2 through the restricted passage 32 of the check valve 24 and through the main passage of the valve .25,.while the valve 25 is located to restrict the flow from the valve 2 to the valve I through the restricted passage of the valve 25 and permit the passage from the valve I through the main passage of the valve 25. In other Words, ythe checkvalves are reversely or oppositely-'disposed in the air circuit.

35D designates 4a normally-closed valve, which is connected `bythepipe 29, previously referred to, to -the main line, the movable valve member 36 of the valve35 -being pressed to closed position, as by-,a spring'l. .The valve member 36 operated -to open the valve by a-pressure-operated motor, previously .referred to, including a diaphragm 38 in .a diaphragm chamber 39, the pressure side of which is -connected through the pipe 2'I to the intermediate -leg 26 of the power line -in which the ycheck valves 24', 25 are connected. The diaphragmpperates a plunger 40 which, `through suitable means, as .a lever 4I, opens the 'valve 350 when the diaphragm vis energized. The valve member. 3.5 .also includes an 'exhaustV valve zhead -42 .normally spacedfrom an -eXhaust-valveseat 43, .the valve heads 42 and 36 'm `beingconnected ato .operate as a-.unit. One arm vof Vthelever 4I thrusts against a-.plunger44 movable .in the rcasing of thev .diaphragm chamber and .thrusts against 4the valve head 42.` The needle valves 34, 35 areadjustedso that` the vflow ofair throughtlie .check valves .24 `and 25, re-

spectively, .is -less than the exhaust through .the .ports I-, .I Ila of the valves. I Aand 2, so that when only;.one control valve I 011.2 '-is open, as the valve I, most .of thelair will pass or exhaustout through -valve 2, and when only the valve 2.is open, most of the air will exhaust out through the port Ill of the closed valve I.

The means for locking either control valve lI or 2 Whenthe other valve only is operated, so that bothvalves must be operated simultaneously to veffect theoperation of themachine, consists in pressure-operatedmotors V45,45 for the valves I, 2 respectively, the.motorf45 beingconnected by a pipe II'Irto .theline 22 leading tothe valve 2, and the y.motor46 .for the valve 2 beingY connected by a pipe 43 to the line I2 of the circuit in which the -checkvalves are connected in series, to ,the valve I. Thus, upon operation of only one manual, as I4, for .instance, the air will passfrom `the valve I, whichnow is Qpento .the port. I3,

line I2, line 48 tothe motor '45 and actuateit to move alocking Jmember 49 into interlocking engagement with themovable valve memberof the valve 2, and hence lock .the valve 2 .operated by Athemanual I5from operation. If, however, the manual I5 is rst` operated, then the air passes from the line 22 Vleading 'from the now open valve 2 tothe motor 45 through.. pipe 4l, causingthe lockingmember 50 theretoto interlock .with the movable valve member of valve I and lock it "fromfoperating movement. The motors 45, 46 "arefalikefin construction, and each includes a diaphra'gm 500 in a diaphragm chamber'5l, the pressure side of which is connected to the pipe vv4.1 or 48. A`:plunger 52 which acts upon thelocking bo1t`49 or 59 to move it against the action of a returning spring 53 or 54. Thus, the machine can not be operated upon movement of only one manual. If only one manual is operated, the other is limimediately locked from operation, so that the op- "erated manual must be: permitted to return Ato [starting position, and both manuals then op- .'erated simultaneously to eifect the operation of ithe machine.

vUpon the release of the manuals, the air is free Ltoexhaust back Vthrough the exhaust ports I0, llla of. the manually-operated valves I and 2, thus The diaphragm acts on a sliding exhausting the air from the diaphragm chamber 39 .and permitting the master valve to open. rIvhis in turn permits the air' to exhaust back through the pipe from the Servo motor of the machine.

The control mechanism here shown is more particularly adapted for presses', as punch presses,

mains closed,- suitable releasably holding means ofgtheltype well known in the art is provided to lock the press closed or to lock the control valves fin closed position, until released. vIn some cases, it is desired to positively prevent repetition of the press operation upon one operation of the control or controls, if a two hand control is used, and in this embodiment of my invention, this is shown as means for forcibly returning the control member or valve or one of the two control valves to closed position, this means being controlled by the operating movement of the machine ,or some part thereof, as a movable part of the Servo motor or a connection operated in synchronism therewith. The Servo motor is, for illustration only, shown as of the cylinder and piston type, the piston being single acting. The piston rod is shown as connected to a motion transmitting part, which also operates the mechanism for forcibly opening the control valve or one of the two control valves. 55 designates the cylinder to which the feed pipe is connected, and 56 designates the piston rod which is at the end of its power stroke when the pressure in the cylinder 55 is released and the air is free to exhaust back through the pipe 39. The piston is retracted in any suitable manner by a spring 51. When the piston reaches the end of its power stroke, it starts to effect the operation of the means for forcibly restoring the valve or one of two valves to closed position. As here shown, this mechanism includes a diaphragm motor 59, similar to the motor for the diaphragm y|) and operating a push plunger 6U which, through suitable leverage 61, operates to withdraw the valve 2 from open to closed position, against ythe reaction of spring I8 (see Figure 1) which holds the plunger I6 from movement, so that the valve 2 is forcibly opened from open to closed exhaust position, when the piston is approaching the end of its power stroke. The air to the diaphragm mechanism 59 is controlled from the power line through pipe or line -6-2 to the end of a valve casu ing 63 in which a spring-pressed combined intake and exhaust valve member 64 is located with the intake head 65 normally closed and the .exhaust valve head 66 normally spaced from its seat 61.

6 'The fnotio'n transmitting member 5s coacts through a'slidin'g pin 6 8 with the movable valve Amember, as the lpiston approaches the end of its power stroke, and operates saidl valve member to Vclose the exhaust valve head 66 and open the intake, rand thus permit the air'to ow through the valve 63 from the pipe or line 62 and through the line 619 to the diaphragm chamber of the de- In Figure 2, all parts corresponding to the parts vin Figure '1' bear -the same reference numerals.

`The'oper'ation of the form shown in Figure 2 is the same as that shown in Figure 1, but with this addition, that when the motor of the machine 'completes its power stroke, the valve head 65 is opened by the movement of the piston rod 56 o-r some motion transmitting part or other part of 'the machine operated thereby, to permit air to `r`flow from the main pipe line through' the valve 63 to the diaphragm chamber of the motor 59 to -act'uate mechanism, as the lever 6I, to forcibly lopenvtlsie` valve 2, or some valve corresponding thereto,l against the force of the operator holding it closed.V This operation causes the exhaust port ofthis Avalve 2 to be opened, permitting air to Vexhaust from the diaphragm chamber 28 of the master valve and the master valve to close, and

yhence to open its exhaust port, letting the air exhaust/'from the cylinder back through the pipe 30 and out past the open exhaust valve head 42. l

Hence, to Vagain operate the press, the manual or ma'nuals, if there are two, must be again operated.

This mechanism for forcibly opening a control v'valvein' the event vthe operator holds it operated too long is applicable also to machines having a single control valve or a `single pedal-operated control valve.

What I claim is:

1. In a two hand control mechanism, right and left hand manually operated self-returning control valves of the combined intake and exhaust type connected to a fluid pressure supply line and normally in closed position in which the intake is closed, each control having a normally open exhaust port, a self-closing master valve connected in a pressure fluid supply line and normally in closed position, a pressure iluid motor operable to open the master valve, a check valve paired with and located in a line in series with each manual control valve, each check valve having its valve member arranged to check the flow of fluid from its companion control valve when the companion control valve is open, and having a restricted open by-pass around its check member to the outlet end of the check valve, the outlet ends of the check valves being connected by a conduit to permit the fluid by-passing either check valve to pass out the exhaust port of the other manual control valve when the latter control valve is closed, and motive fluid operated means for locking the control valves in starting position, the lock means for the right hand valve being connected in multiple in the line connected to the check valve paired with the left hand valve, the lock means for the left hand valve being connected in the line to the check valve paired with the right hand control valve, the motor for the master valve being connected to the pipe conduit connecting the outlet ends of the check valves.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 and in addition means for forcibly returning one of the manually operated valves to its normal or starting position including a pressure fluid motor and a valve operated by the operating movement of @smbolo fthe -servo motor -during each operation for sup- -plying motive fluid 'to -the last mentioned motor, whereby repeated `operations upon the manual valves operated .-is prevented.

3. In a twohand controlfora motor which operatesv :a master control member to `control -the .-ow Aof .motive iiuid lto -a servo .motor tof -a machine; right and left hand manually operated control members normally in position to Ycutoi the -flow of 1moi,ive.-iluid, Ya -motive uid -line ,conneoting the manually operatedv controlmembers :in seriesand having `oppositely operating 1,check elements therein, .one -for Aeach f :manual control member, leach-,element being .arranged to check ;tl're.ow :of -fluidwfrom -its companionl manually fcontrolled member@ to the `.other .check element, fand :each check-element :having a restricted. .byfpass ff or the motive fluid Aaround .its check means, `whereby some of the moti-ve .fluid less `,than `the `full-capacity of theiiuid line by-passes around the check elements when either Aof the manuals .'iszoperatedfto permit the flow of motive-luid-,v-the unoperated ymanual permitting -the escape of the iby-passeduid when only-one manualv'fcontrol -memberis operated, a motiveffluidline for the .-motor connected'to-the line Uonnectingrthe check felements, .allwwhereby -When both manualv controlfelementsare operated the rmotiveyfluidfpasses atiull,l capacity through both manual control members. and the check elements to the motor for the mastery control member, vandi-the master oontrol -memberfoperated to vconductV the motive "Suid-to -the :servo motor, .a 'lock for feachfmanual member including-a :motive fluidoperated motor,

Cil

the fmotorior the lock .of the .right hand ,manual .control member being connectedto theline leading to the check element for the left handmatiual control member, and the motor for .the lock of the left Vhand manual control member being -connectedto the motive fluid line leading to the check valve Ypaired. with the right hand manual control member so that upon the operation .of either Ymanual control member only, the other manual control member is lockedfrom operation.

4. The construction set forth in claim 3 and in .addition means Vfor forcibly returning one of the manually operated members to its normal or starting position including a motive uid motor controlled in its operation by the servo motonof .said machine after it is operated a predetermined distance, whereby repeated voperations of the servo motor and the machine upon one operation .of both manually operated control members is prevented.

BASIL J. YANCHENKO,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record -in the ,file` of this patent:

UNITED4 STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,676,866 Maury July 10, l1928 v1;90'l,538 Hanna May9, 1933 1, 9`73;467` Davis Sept. `11, 1934 2,246,379 Muir June 171941 v2,265,470 Perkins ,Nov. 18, 1941 2,383,851 Gayring Aug, 28, 1945 

